Display device

ABSTRACT

A display device includes a lower substrate that includes a side surface having a first inclined surface. An upper substrate is disposed on the lower substrate and includes a side surface having a second inclined surface. A first electrode is disposed on a surface of at least one of the lower substrate or the upper substrate. An auxiliary electrode is disposed on the first inclined surface of the lower substrate and the second inclined surface of the upper substrate. The auxiliary electrode includes a first portion corresponding to the first inclined surface, a second portion corresponding to the second inclined surface, and a bent portion bent at a predetermined angle with respect to the first and second inclined surfaces. The first electrode may be in contact with the bent portion on the first exposed surface to electrically connect to the auxiliary electrode.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/730,357 filed on Dec. 30, 2019, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C.§ 119 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2018-0173829, filed on Dec.31, 2018 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosures ofwhich are incorporated by reference in their entireties.

1. TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a display device, and moreparticularly, to a display device including a substrate having aninclined side surface and a flexible printed circuit board connected tothe substrate.

2. DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART

Various display devices such as a liquid crystal display (LCD), anorganic light emitting diode display (OLED), and the like include adisplay panel on which a plurality of pixels capable of displaying animage are formed. The display panel may also include a driving circuitportion capable of driving the display panel.

The display panel includes a display area in which a plurality of pixelsis formed. A bezel area, which is a peripheral area in which an imagecannot be displayed, may be disposed around the display area. Variousdriving circuits and wires may be disposed in the bezel area.

Recently, research and development have been actively performed on atechnique of bonding a driving integrated circuit (IC), other printedcircuits, wires, and the like to a side surface of the display panel inorder to reduce the bezel area which is a non-display area.

SUMMARY

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present inventiveconcepts a display device includes a lower substrate that includes aside surface having a first inclined surface. An upper substrate isdisposed on the lower substrate. The upper substrate includes a sidesurface having a second inclined surface. A first electrode is disposedon a surface of at least one of the lower substrate or the uppersubstrate. An auxiliary electrode is disposed on the first inclinedsurface of the lower substrate and the second inclined surface of theupper substrate. The auxiliary electrode includes a first portioncorresponding to the first inclined surface, a second portioncorresponding to the second inclined surface, and a bent portion that isbent at a predetermined angle with respect to the first and secondinclined surfaces. The first electrode is in contact with the bentportion of the auxiliary electrode on a first exposed surface of thefirst electrode to electrically connect the first electrode to theauxiliary electrode.

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present inventiveconcepts, a display device includes a lower substrate having a firstside surface. An upper substrate is disposed on the lower substrate. Theupper substrate has a second side surface. A first electrode is disposedon a surface of one of the lower substrate and the upper substrate. Anauxiliary electrode is disposed on the first side surface of the lowersubstrate and the second side surface of the upper substrate. At leastone of the first side surface of the lower substrate or the second sidesurface of the upper substrate has an inclined surface. The auxiliaryelectrode includes a bent portion bent at a predetermined angle withrespect to the inclined surface. The first electrode is in contact withthe bent portion of the auxiliary electrode on a first exposed surfaceof the first electrode to electrically connect the first electrode tothe auxiliary electrode. The first exposed surface is adjacent to theinclined surface.

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present inventiveconcepts, a display device includes a first substrate that includes afirst side surface. A second substrate is disposed on the firstsubstrate. The second substrate includes a second side surface. At leastone of the first side surface and second side surface have a inclinedsurface. A first electrode is disposed on a main surface of at least oneof the first substrate or the second substrate. A second electrode isdisposed on the first side surface and the second side surface. Thesecond electrode includes a first portion corresponding to the firstside surface, a second portion corresponding to the second side surface,and a bent portion that is bent with respect to at least one of thefirst and second side surfaces. The first electrode is in contact withthe bent portion of the second electrode on an end portion of the firstelectrode to electrically connect the first electrode to the secondelectrode.

Exemplary embodiments of the present inventive concepts provide adisplay device in which upper and lower substrates may be provided withinclined side surfaces. A flexible printed circuit board on which anauxiliary electrode, a circuit, and the like are formed may be bonded tothe inclined side surfaces, thereby improving the bonding force betweenthe substrate and the auxiliary electrode on the flexible printedcircuit board. A sealing portion may be disposed to expose an electrodeon the substrate, thereby increasing a contact area between theelectrode on the substrate and the auxiliary electrode to stably apply apower supply, a signal, and the like.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a display device according toan exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concepts.

FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-sectional view taken along line I-I′ shown inFIG. 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventiveconcepts.

FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an embodiment whichincludes a filling portion according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent inventive concepts.

FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment ofthe present inventive concepts in which inclined angles of the upper andlower substrates are different from the embodiment in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an embodiment in which asealing portion is further recessed in a central portion of thesubstrate according to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventiveconcepts.

FIG. 6 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an embodiment whichincludes a filling portion of an auxiliary electrode according to anexemplary embodiment of the present inventive concepts.

FIG. 7 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an embodiment in which anupper substrate is provided with an inclined side surface and anelectrode is disposed on a lower substrate according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present inventive concepts.

FIG. 8 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an embodiment in which alower substrate is provided with an inclined side surface and anelectrode is disposed on the lower substrate according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present inventive concepts.

FIG. 9 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an embodiment in which anupper substrate is provided with an inclined side surface and anelectrode is disposed on the upper substrate according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present inventive concepts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will be described more fully hereinafter withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodimentsof the present inventive concepts are shown. As those skilled in the artwould realize, the described embodiments may be modified in variousdifferent ways, all without departing from the spirit or scope of thepresent disclosure.

Parts that are irrelevant to the description will be omitted to clearlydescribe the present disclosure, and like reference numerals designatelike elements throughout the specification.

Further, in the drawings, the size and thickness of each element arearbitrarily illustrated for ease of description, and the presentdisclosure is not necessarily limited to those illustrated in thedrawings. In the drawings, the thicknesses of layers, films, panels,regions, etc., may be exaggerated for clarity. In the drawings, for easeof description, the thicknesses of some layers and areas may beexaggerated.

It will be understood that when an element such as a layer, film,region, or substrate is referred to as being “on” another element, itcan be directly on the other element or intervening elements may also bepresent. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directlyon” another element, there are no intervening elements present. Further,in the specification, the word “on” or “above” means disposed on orbelow the object portion, and does not necessarily mean disposed on theupper side of the object portion based on a gravitational direction.

In addition, unless explicitly described to the contrary, the word“comprise” and variations such as “comprises” or “comprising” will beunderstood to imply the inclusion of stated elements but not theexclusion of any other elements.

Further, throughout the specification, the phrase “on a plane” meansviewing a target portion from the top, and the phrase “on across-section” means viewing a cross-section formed by verticallycutting a target portion from the side.

Hereinafter, a display device according to an exemplary embodiment ofthe present inventive concepts will be described with reference toFIG. 1. FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a display deviceaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventive concepts.Certain invisible constituent elements are shown in dashed lines.

Referring to FIG. 1, a display device according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present inventive concepts includes a flexible printedcircuit (FPC) 500, a lower substrate 110, an upper substrate 120, afirst electrode 210, a sealing portion 300, and an auxiliary electrode400.

In an exemplary embodiment, the lower substrate 110 and the uppersubstrate 120 may be formed of a rigid material such as glass or aflexible organic material such as plastic. When the lower substrate 110and the upper substrate 120 are flexible, they may include variousplastics such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylenenaphthalate (PEN), polycarbonate (PC), polyarylate (PAR), polyetherimide(PEI), polyether sulfone (PES), or polyimide (PI), a metal thin film, anultra-thin glass, or the like.

The lower substrate 110 may have a first inclined surface S1 that isinclined at a predetermined angle. The first inclined surface S1 may beprovided on a side surface of the lower substrate 110. The uppersubstrate 120 may have a second inclined surface S2 that is inclined ata predetermined angle. The second inclined surface S2 may be provided ona side surface of the upper substrate 120. The lower substrate 110 andthe upper substrate 120 may have a structure (e.g., a level ofworkability) that facilitates formation of the first inclined surfaceSI.

The first inclined surface S1 and the second inclined surface S2 areinclined at a predetermined angle with respect to a bottom surface(hereinafter referred to as a lower surface) at which the lowersubstrate 110 is disposed. As shown in FIGS. 1-2, the inclined angleformed by the first inclined surface S1 and the lower surface 115 of thelower substrate 110 is referred to as the first inclined angle θ1. Asshown in FIGS. 1-2, the inclined angle formed by the second inclinedsurface S2 and the lower surface 125 of the upper substrate 120 isreferred to as the second inclined angle θ2. In FIG. 1, it isillustrated that the first inclined angle θ1 and the second inclinedangle θ2 are the same. Accordingly, a first straight line L1 shown inFIG. 1 may be disposed on a single plane. Therefore, when the firstinclined surface S1 and the second inclined surface S2 are extended,they may be disposed on one plane.

However, in some exemplary embodiments, the first inclined angle θ1 andthe second inclined angle θ2 may be inclined at different angles. Inthese embodiments, the first straight line L1 may be a bent line that isbent at least once and is not a line that is disposed on only one plane.

The upper substrate 120 may be disposed on the lower substrate 110 todisplay an image on a front surface in accordance with an electricalsignal applied to the display device. The front surface of the uppersubstrate 120 may include a display area DA and a peripheral area PA. Aplurality of pixels may be formed in the display area DA such that animage may be displayed. The peripheral area PA may be disposed aroundthe periphery of the display area DA. The peripheral area PA may includevarious driving circuits and wires and no image may be displayed in theperipheral area. The peripheral area PA is also referred to as a bezelarea.

In some exemplary embodiments, at least one surface of the lowersubstrate 110 may be provided with a display area DA and a peripheralarea PA, and the upper substrate 120 may be a touch screen panel TSPthat senses a touch from the outside of the display device. In thisembodiment, the upper substrate 120 may include a touch area, which isan area in which a touch from the outside may be sensed. A touch bezelarea may be disposed around the periphery of the touch area. A pluralityof touch cells may be formed in the touch area. The touch cell is a unitcapable of sensing an external touch. The touch cell may include atleast one touch electrode. The touch cell may sense a touch from theoutside in various ways such as a mutual capacitive type. The touch cellmay output a touch output signal.

The first electrode 210 may be disposed between the lower substrate 110and the upper substrate 120. In some embodiments, the first electrode210 may be disposed on the lower substrate 110 of the display device.The first electrode 210 may include a plurality of signal lines and aplurality of pixels. The signal lines may electrically connect thepixels to the flexible printed circuit board 500 described later. Eachpixel may display light for forming an image.

In some exemplary embodiments, the first electrode 210 may be disposedbelow the upper substrate 120, not above the lower substrate 110. Asshown in FIGS. 4-5, a second electrode 220 may be disposed below theupper substrate 120.

The sealing portion 300 may be interposed between the lower substrate110 and the upper substrate 120. The sealing portion 300 may attach thelower and upper substrates 110 and 120 together. The sealing portion 300may be formed to expose a part of the first electrode 210 disposed onthe lower substrate 110. In this embodiment, the surface in which thefirst electrode 210 is partially exposed is referred to as a firstexposed surface P1. For example, in an exemplary embodiment, the sealingportion 300 may be disposed on an inner side of the first exposedsurface to expose the first electrode 210. The first exposed surface P1may be disposed adjacent to the first inclined surface S1 and extendfrom the first inclined surface S1.

The auxiliary electrode 400, may be a wire formed on the flexibleprinted circuit board 500. The auxiliary electrode 400 may be disposedalong the first inclined surface S1 of the lower substrate 110 and thesecond inclined surface S2 of the upper substrate 120. As shown in FIG.1, in an exemplary embodiment, the auxiliary electrode 400 may include aplurality of the auxiliary electrodes. The plurality of auxiliaryelectrodes 400 may be disposed to be spaced apart from each other by apredetermined distance. The auxiliary electrode 400 may include anelectrically conductive metal, and may include a plurality of side wireselectrically connected to the plurality of signal lines of the firstelectrode 210.

The auxiliary electrode 400 may include a first portion 410 contactingthe first inclined surface S1 of the lower substrate 110, a secondportion 420 contacting the second inclined surface S2 of the uppersubstrate 120, a third portion 430 contacting the first exposed surfaceP1 of the first electrode 210, and a fourth portion 440 contacting atleast one side surface of the sealing portion 300. For example, in oneembodiment, the fourth portion 440 contacts one side surface of thesealing portion 300. The third portion 430 and the fourth portion 440are collectively referred to as a bent portion A. For example, as shownin FIG. 2, the side surface of the auxiliary electrode 400 may have abent portion A that is bent out of the first straight line L1. In theexemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the third portion 430 and thefourth portion 440 of the bent portion A are orientated substantiallyperpendicular with respect to each other.

Recently, research and development for minimizing the bezel area whichno image of the display device is displayed, has been attractingattention. The bezel area may be reduced by a side bonding that bonds adriving circuit or wires to the side surface of the substrate. In thedisplay device according to the exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention, circuit elements such as the flexible printed circuit board500 on which the auxiliary electrode 400 may be formed or the printedcircuit board (PCB) may be attached to the side surface of thesubstrate. However, since the side surface of the substrate isperpendicular to the lower surface of the substrate, when the circuitelements are attached to the side surface of the substrate, the bondingforce may be weak.

Therefore, in the display device according to the exemplary embodimentof the present invention, the side surface of the substrate is inclined(e.g., in an oblique direction), thereby improving the adhesive forcebetween the auxiliary electrode 400 that is side-bonded to the substrateand the circuit elements to achieve stable bonding therebetween. Inaddition, the electrode disposed on at least one surface of thesubstrate includes the exposed surface which increases the contact areabetween the auxiliary electrode 400 and the electrode, thereby stablyapplying the power or signal.

The side surface of the lower substrate 110 may have the first inclinedsurface S1. The side surface of the upper substrate 120 may have thesecond inclined surface S2. The side surfaces of the two substrates 110and 120 collectively may form an oblique shape. Accordingly, the contactarea of the auxiliary electrode 400 bonded to the side surfaces of thetwo substrates 110 and 120 increases and the bonding force between thetwo substrates 110 and 120 and the auxiliary electrode 400 may increase.Therefore, the auxiliary electrode 400 may be stably bonded to the sidesurfaces of the lower and upper substrates 110, 120.

In addition, the sealing portion 300 may be configured to expose thefirst exposed surface P1 of the first electrode 210 between the twosubstrates 110 and 120. The auxiliary electrode 400 may have the bentportion A. Accordingly, the auxiliary electrode 400 may contact not onlythe side surfaces of the first electrode 210 and the lower substrate110, but also the first exposed surface P1. Since the contact areabetween the auxiliary electrode 400 and the first electrode 210increases, a stable power or signal may be applied to the firstelectrode 210 through the auxiliary electrode 400. In an exemplaryembodiment, a portion of the first portion 410 of the auxiliaryelectrode 400 may contact the side surface of the first electrode 210 inthe side surface of the lower substrate 110. The third portion 430 ofthe bent portion A of the auxiliary electrode 400 may contact the firstexposed surface P1.

The flexible printed circuit board 500 may include the auxiliaryelectrode 400, and the auxiliary electrode 400 may further include awire connected to the driving circuit. The flexible printed circuitboard 500 may be disposed on an outer side of the auxiliary electrode400. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, the flexible printed circuit board500 may be disposed above the auxiliary electrode 400. In an exemplaryembodiment, the flexible printed circuit board 500 may directly contactthe auxiliary electrode 400. Since the flexible printed circuit board500 includes a plurality of signal lines, the flexible printed circuitboard 500 may be electrically connected to the first electrode 210disposed on the lower substrate 110 through the auxiliary electrode 400contacting the flexible printed circuit board 500.

In some exemplary embodiments, the flexible printed circuit board 500may be electrically connected to the first electrode 210 disposed belowthe upper substrate 120, and may be electrically connected to both thefirst electrode 210 disposed on the lower substrate 110 and the secondelectrode 220 disposed below the upper substrate 120. These embodimentswill be described in more detail below.

The flexible printed circuit board 500 may be bent along the sidesurfaces of the two substrates 110 and 120 to extend to the lowersurface 115 of the tower substrate 110, surrounding the two inclinedsurfaces S1 and S2. Although not shown, the flexible printed circuitboard 500 may extend to an upper surface of the upper substrate 120. Inaddition to the flexible printed circuit board 500, a circuit elementsuch as a printed circuit board (PCB) may be attached to the sidesurfaces of the two substrates 110 and 120.

As described above, the flexible printed circuit board 500 may beinclined along the two inclined surfaces S1 and S2 of the two substrates110 and 120 on the auxiliary electrode 400. Therefore, the area wherethe flexible printed circuit board 500 contacts the two substrates 110and 120 through the auxiliary electrode 400 increases. Accordingly, theflexible printed circuit board 500 may be stably bonded to the twosubstrates 110 and 120.

Hereinafter, characteristics of the side surface of the display deviceaccording to exemplary embodiments will be described with reference toFIGS. 2-3. FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 are cross-sectional views taken along lineI-I′ of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an exemplaryembodiment in which a sealing portion of FIG. 2 is modified. Adescription of the substantially same elements as those described inFIG. 1 may be simplified or omitted. In the following cross-sectionalviews, an inclined surface and a contact surface are shown with arrowsfor convenience.

Referring to FIG. 2 together with FIG. 1, the upper substrate 120 may bedisposed on the lower substrate 110, and the two substrates 110 and 120may be bonded together through the sealing portion 300 interposedtherebetween. In this embodiment, the lower substrate 110 and the uppersubstrate 120 may be respectively disposed to be inclined with respectto the lower surfaces 115, 125 of the substrates by the first inclinedangle θ1 and the second inclined angle θ2. In exemplary embodiments, thefirst inclined angle θ1 and the second inclined angle θ2 may be the sameor different. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the firstinclined angle θ1 and the second inclined angle θ2 are shown to be acuteangles of smaller than 90 degrees. However, the first inclined angle θ1and the second inclined angle θ2 may be obtuse angles or 90 degreesaccording to exemplary embodiments to be described later. In theexemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the first inclined angle θ1 andthe second inclined angle θ2 may be the same, and side extension linesof the two inclined surfaces S1 and S2 of the two substrates 110 and 120may be disposed on the same line of the first straight line L1.

The first electrode 210 may be disposed on the lower substrate 110. Thefirst electrode 210 may include a plurality of signal lines for applyinga driving voltage, a data signal, and the like to the display device, aninsulating layer, and a plurality of pixels that emit light to displayan image. The signal lines may include a gate line for transmitting agate signal, a data line for transmitting a data signal, a power supplyline for transmitting a driving voltage, and a reference voltageterminal.

The sealing portion 300 may be disposed between the two substrates 110and 120 to physically couple the two substrates. The sealing portion 300may be configured to expose a part of the first electrode 210 disposedon the lower substrate 110, thereby increasing the contact area of theauxiliary electrode 400 with the first electrode 210 through the bentportion A.

The auxiliary electrode 400 may be bonded to the side surfaces of thetwo substrates 110 and 120 along the two inclined surfaces S1 and S2.The auxiliary electrode 400 may include a plurality of signal lines. Inthis embodiment, the bent portion A including the third portion 430 andthe fourth portion 440 is disposed so as to deviate from the firststraight line L1, and thus, is not disposed on the same line as thefirst portion 410 and the second portion 420. Although not shown, theauxiliary electrode 400 may pass the first inclined surface S1 of thelower substrate 110 and extend to the lower surface 115 of the lowersubstrate 110. In this embodiment, the third portion 430 and the fourthportion 440 may have a structure that is bent at different angles fromthe first portion 410 and the second portion 420. The bent portion Aincluding the third portion 430 and the fourth portion 440 may havevarious different structures.

The flexible printed circuit board 500 may include the auxiliaryelectrode 400, and the auxiliary electrode 400 may further include thewire connected to the driving circuit. The flexible printed circuitboard 500 may be in direct contact with the auxiliary electrode 400 atan outer side of the auxiliary electrode 400 (e.g., above the auxiliaryelectrode 400). Since the flexible printed circuit board 500 includesthe plurality of signal lines, the flexible printed circuit board 500may be electrically connected to the first electrode 210 disposed on thelower substrate 110 through the auxiliary electrode 400.

The auxiliary electrode 400 may be disposed on side surfaces of the twosubstrates 110 and 120 along the first sloped surface S1 and the secondsloped surface S2 on the auxiliary electrode 400. The flexible printedcircuit board 500 may pass the first inclined surface S1 of the lowersubstrate 110 and extend to the lower surface thereof to be bent tosurround the lower substrate 110. In an exemplary embodiment in whichthe first inclined angle θ1 is an acute angle, the flexible printedcircuit board 500 may be bent at an acute angle with respect to thefirst inclined surface S1 of the lower substrate 110.

Hereinafter, an embodiment to which a filling portion is added will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 3. A description of the same contentsas those described in FIG. 2 will be omitted, and features that aredifferent from the above-described embodiment will be mainly described.

The sealing portion 300 may be disposed between the lower substrate 110and the upper substrate 120 to physically couple the two substrates. Inthis embodiment, the display device according to the embodiment mayfurther include a filling portion 310 that is disposed adjacent to thesealing portion 300. The filling portion 310 may be disposed outside ofthe sealing portion 300.

Unlike the sealing portion 300, the filling portion 310 may beconfigured to be filled from the outside after the two substrates 110and 120 are bonded together. The filling portion 310 may include adifferent material from the sealing portion 300.

Hereinafter, a display device according to other exemplary embodimentswill be described with reference to FIG. 4 to FIG. 6. FIG. 4 illustratesa cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment in which the inclinedangles of the upper and lower substrates are different from theembodiment in FIG. 2. FIG. 5 illustrates a cross-sectional view of anexemplary embodiment in which the sealing portion 300 is furtherrecessed to the inside of the substrate. FIG. 6 illustrates across-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment which includes a fillingportion 450 of the auxiliary electrode 400. A description of the same orsimilar elements as those described above may be simplified or omitted.Features that are different from the embodiments described above will bemainly described.

Referring to FIG. 4, a display device according to an exemplaryembodiment may include the upper substrate 120, the lower substrate 110,the first electrode 210, the second electrode 220, the sealing portion300, the auxiliary electrode 400, and the flexible printed circuit board500.

The side surface of the lower substrate 110 may include the firstinclined surface S1 which is inclined with respect to the lower surface115 of the lower substrate 110 by the first inclined angle θ1. The firstelectrode 210 may be disposed on the lower substrate 110.

The upper substrate 120 may be disposed on the lower substrate 110. Theside surface of the upper substrate 120 may include the second inclinedsurface S2 which is inclined with respect to the lower surface 125 ofthe upper substrate 120 by the second inclined angle θ2. Unlike theexemplary embodiments shown in FIGS. 1-3, the second inclined angle θ2may be inclined to have an obtuse angle of greater than 90 degrees. Thefirst inclined surface S1 may be disposed on a straight line L1-1 andthe second inclined surface S2 may be disposed on a straight line L1-2.An angle between the straight line L1-1 and the straight line L1-2 maybe equal to a difference between the first inclined angle θ1 and thesecond inclined angle θ2. Therefore, the two inclined surfaces S1 and S2may not be disposed on the same line. The first inclined surface S1 andthe second inclined surface S2 may be vertically symmetrical.

The second electrode 220 may be disposed under the upper substrate 120.The second electrode 220 may include a plurality of signal lines and aplurality of pixels in the same manner as the first electrode 210. Thesignal lines may electrically connect the pixels to the auxiliaryelectrode 400 described later. Each pixel may display light for formingan image. In some exemplary embodiments, the second electrode 220 may bea touch electrode, unlike the first electrode 210. The display devicemay include a touch sensing function capable of interacting with a userin addition to a function of displaying an image. The touch sensingfunction may be implemented through a touch sensor formed on the displaypanel. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the second electrode220 may be a touch electrode serving as the touch sensor.

As such, in FIG. 4, the electrodes including the signal lines aredisposed on both the lower substrate 110 and the upper substrate 120,and the first inclined surface S1 is inclined to form an acute angle,while the second inclined surface S2 is inclined to form an obtuseangle.

The sealing portion 300 may be formed to expose the first exposedsurface P1 that is a part of the first electrode 210 disposed on thelower substrate 110. Further, the sealing portion 300 is formed toexpose a part of the second electrode 220 disposed under the uppersubstrate 120. In this embodiment, the surface in which the secondelectrode 220 is partially exposed is referred to as the second exposedsurface P2. The sealing portion 300 may be disposed on an inner side ofthe second exposed surface P2, and may be disposed to expose a part ofthe second electrode. The second exposed surface P2 may be disposedadjacent to the second inclined surface S2 and extending to the secondinclined surface S2.

As described above, since the sealing portion 300 is configured toexpose the first electrode 210 through the first exposed surface P1 andto expose the second electrode 220 through the second exposed surfaceP2, the contact area with the auxiliary electrode 400 described latermay be further increased.

The auxiliary electrode 400 may be bonded to the side surfaces of thetwo substrates 110 and 120 along the two inclined surfaces S1 and S2.The auxiliary electrode 400 may include a plurality of signal lines.

The auxiliary electrode 400 may include the first portion 410, thesecond portion 420, the third portion 430, and the fourth portion 440,and further includes an fifth portion 430-1 in the above-describedembodiment. The first portion 410 may be in contact with the firstinclined surface S1. The second portion 420 may be in contact with thesecond inclined surface S2. The third portion 430 may be in contact withthe first exposed surface P1. The fourth portion 440 may be in contactwith a side surface of the sealing portion 300. The fifth portion 430-1may be in contact with the second exposed surface P2 of the secondelectrode 220.

In this embodiment, the third portion 430, the fifth portion 430-1, andthe fourth portion 440 may be referred to as the bent portion A. Unlikethe above-described embodiments, the bent portion A may have asubstantially “C” shape as the two inclined angles θ1 and θ2 of the twoinclined surfaces S1 and S2 are formed to be different. The bent portionA may be disposed to deviate from both a first-one straight line L1-1and a first-two straight line L1-2. The bent portion A may not bedisposed on the same line as the first portion 410 and the secondportion 420. The third portion 430, the fifth portion 430-1, and thefourth portion 440 may have a bent structure at an angle that isdifferent from that of the first portion 410 and the second portion 420.The bent portion A including the third portion 430, the fifth portion430-1, and the fourth portion 440 may have various structures.

Although not shown, the auxiliary electrode 400 may pass the firstinclined surface S1 of the lower substrate 110 and extend to the lowersurface 115 of the lower substrate 110.

The same signal may be applied to the first electrode 210 and the secondelectrode 220. In some exemplary embodiments, when the first electrode210 includes common signal lines and the second electrode 220 is a touchelectrode, the auxiliary electrodes 400 may be separately formed so thatanother signal may be applied thereto.

As described above, since the side surfaces of the two substrates 110and 120 are formed to be inclined, the contact area between the twosubstrates 110 and 120 and the auxiliary electrode 400 increases, thusthe bonding force therebetween increases, so that they may be stablybonded. In addition, not only is the third portion 430 of the auxiliaryelectrode 400 in contact with the first exposed surface P1 of the firstelectrode 210, but the second inclined angle θ2 has an obtuse angle, sothat the fifth portion 430-1 may be in contact with the second exposedsurface P2. Accordingly, the areas in which the auxiliary electrode 400contacts the first electrode 210 and the second electrode 220 are allincreased, so that the power, signal, touch signal, or the like may bestably applied to the display device.

Referring to FIG. 5, both the first inclined surface S1 and the secondinclined surface S2 may be inclined to have an acute angle as in theembodiment of FIG. 2. In this embodiment, the first inclined angle θ1and the second inclined angle θ2 may be the same as or different fromeach other. As shown in FIG. 4, the second electrode 220 may be disposedunder the upper substrate 120. The second electrode 220 may include thesame general signal lines as the first electrode 210, or unlike thefirst electrode 210, may be a touch electrode serving as a touch sensor.

Unlike the embodiment of FIG. 2, the sealing portion 300 may bepositioned in a direction away from the two inclined surfaces S1 and S2(e.g., towards a central portion of the substrate). Accordingly, theauxiliary electrode 400 may include the fifth portion 430-1 in contactwith the second exposed surface P2 as well as the third portion 430 incontact with the first exposed surface P1. The third portion 430, thefifth portion 430-1, and the fourth portion 440 of the auxiliaryelectrode 400 form the bent portion A, which may have a general “C”shape in which an upper side thereof is shorter than a lower sidethereof. The third portion 430, the fifth portion 430-1, and the fourthportion 440 may have a bent structure at an angle that is different fromthat of the first portion 410 and the second portion 420. However, thebent portion A including the third portion 430, the fifth portion 430-1,and the fourth portion 440 may have various structures in accordancewith exemplary embodiments of the present inventive concepts.

As described above, since the side surfaces of the two substrates 110and 120 are formed to be inclined, the contact area between the twosubstrates 110 and 120 and the auxiliary electrode 400 increases.Therefore, the bonding force between the upper and lower substrates 110,120 and the auxiliary electrode 400 increases so that they may be stablybonded. In addition, not only may the third portion 430 of the auxiliaryelectrode 400 be in contact with the first exposed surface P1 of thefirst electrode 210, but the fifth portion 430-1 may also be in contactwith the second exposed surface P2 due to the positioning of the sealingportion 300. Accordingly, the areas in which the auxiliary electrode 400contacts the first electrode 210 and the second electrode 220 are allincreased, so that the power, signal, touch signal, or the like may bestably applied to the display device.

Referring to FIG. 6, both the first inclined surface S1 and the secondinclined surface S2 may be inclined to have an acute angle as in theexemplary embodiment of FIG. 2. In this embodiment, the first inclinedangle θ1 and the second inclined angle θ2 may be the same as ordifferent from each other.

The auxiliary electrode 400 includes the first portion 410, the secondportion 420, the third portion 430, the fourth portion 440, and thefilling portion 450. The filling portion 450 includes the same materialas the first portion 410, the second portion 420, the third portion 430,and the fourth portion 440, and may be a part of the auxiliary electrode400. In some exemplary embodiments, the filling portion 450 may includea different material from those of the first, second, third, and fourthportions 410, 420, 430, and 440.

The auxiliary electrode 400 may include the bent portion A that deviatesfrom the first straight line L1, as shown in FIG. 1. The bent portion Amay include the third portion 430 in contact with the first exposedsurface P1 and the fourth portion 440 in contact with one side surfaceof the sealing portion 300. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 6,the auxiliary electrode 400 may further include the filling portion 450that is disposed above the bent portion A to fill the bent portion A.Since the auxiliary electrode 400 further includes the filling portion450, the side surface of the auxiliary electrode 400 may besubstantially disposed on the same line as the first straight line L1.

By forming the auxiliary electrode 400, which is disposed on the sameplane as the flexible printed circuit board 500 without bending, on theflexible printed circuit board 500, the flexible printed circuit board500 may further stably be in close contact with the two substrates 110and 120 through the auxiliary electrode 400, thereby improvingreliability.

Hereinafter, display devices according to other exemplary embodimentswill be described with reference to FIGS. 7-9. FIG. 7 illustrates across-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment in which an uppersubstrate is provided with an inclined side surface and a wire isdisposed on a lower substrate. FIG. 8 illustrates a cross-sectional viewof an exemplary embodiment in which a lower substrate is provided withan inclined side surface and a wire is disposed on the lower substrate.FIG. 9 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an exemplary embodiment inwhich an upper substrate is provided with an inclined side surface and awire is disposed on the upper substrate. Hereinafter, features that aredifferent from the exemplary embodiments described above will be mainlydescribed.

Referring to FIG. 7, a first side surface S1-1, which is one sidesurface of the lower substrate 110, may not form an inclined angle. Forexample, the first angle θ1-1 may be approximately 90 degrees. The sidesurface of the upper substrate 120 may include the second inclinedsurface S2 inclined at the second inclined angle θ2. The second inclinedangle θ2 may be an acute angle. The first electrode 210 may be disposedon the lower substrate 110. The sealing portion 300 may be disposedbetween the lower substrate 110 and the upper substrate 120 to exposethe first exposed surface P1 of the first electrode 210. The firstexposed surface P1 may extend to the first side surface S1-1.

The auxiliary electrode 400 may include the first portion 410 contactingthe first side surface S1-1 of the lower substrate 110, the secondportion 420 contacting the second inclined surface S2 of the uppersubstrate 120, the third portion 430 contacting the first exposedsurface P1 of the first electrode 210, and the fourth portion 440contacting a side surface of the sealing portion 300. Here, the thirdportion 430 and the fourth portion 440 form the bent portion A of theauxiliary electrode 400. The bent portion A is disposed outside of thefirst straight line L1 extending from the side surface of the secondinclined surface S2.

The flexible printed circuit board 500 may be disposed on the auxiliaryelectrode 400, and a plurality of signal lines may be formed on theauxiliary electrode 400 on the flexible printed circuit board 500.

Referring to FIG. 8, the side surface of the lower substrate 110 mayinclude the first inclined surface S1, which forms the first inclinedangle θ1. The first inclined angle θ1 may be an acute angle. The secondside surface S2-1, which is a side surface of the upper substrate 120,may not include an inclined angle. For example, the second angle θ2-1may be approximately 90 degrees. The first electrode 210 may be disposedon the lower substrate 110. The sealing portion 300 may be disposedbetween the lower substrate 110 and the upper substrate 120 and isconfigured to expose the first exposed surface P1 of the first electrode210. The first exposed surface P1 may extend to the first inclinedsurface S1.

The auxiliary electrode 400 may include the first portion 410 contactingthe first inclined surface S1 of the lower substrate 110, the secondportion 420 contacting the second side surface S2-1 of the uppersubstrate 120, the third portion 430 contacting the first exposedsurface P1 of the first electrode 210, and the fourth portion 440contacting the one side surface of the sealing portion 300. Here, thethird portion 430 and the fourth portion 440 form the bent portion A ofthe auxiliary electrode 400. The bent portion A may be disposed outsideof the first straight line L1 extending from the side surface of thefirst inclined surface S1.

The flexible printed circuit board 500 may be disposed on the auxiliaryelectrode 400, and a plurality of signal lines may be formed on theauxiliary electrode 400 on the flexible printed circuit board 500.

Referring to FIG. 9, the first side surface S1-1, which is one sidesurface of the lower substrate 110, may not form an inclined angle. Forexample, the first angle θ1-1 may be approximately 90 degrees. The sidesurface of the upper substrate 120 may include the second inclinedsurface S2 inclined at the second inclined angle θ2. The second inclinedangle θ2 may be an obtuse angle. The first electrode 210 may be disposedon the upper substrate 120. The sealing portion 300 may be disposedbetween the lower substrate 110 and the upper substrate 120 and may beconfigured to expose the first exposed surface P1 of the first electrode210. The first exposed surface P1 may extend to the second inclinedsurface S2.

The auxiliary electrode 400 may include the first portion 410 contactingthe first side surface S1-1 of the lower substrate 110, the secondportion 420 contacting the second inclined surface S2 of the uppersubstrate 120, the third portion 430 contacting the first exposedsurface P1 of the first electrode 210, and the fourth portion 440contacting a side surface of the sealing portion 300. In thisembodiment, the third portion 430 and the fourth portion 440 form thebent portion A of the auxiliary electrode 400. The bent portion A may bedisposed outside the first straight line L1 extending from the sidesurface of the second inclined surface S2.

The flexible printed circuit board 500 may be disposed on the auxiliaryelectrode 400, and a plurality of signal lines may be formed on theauxiliary electrode 400 on the flexible printed circuit board 500.

According to the above-described exemplary embodiments, a side surfaceof at least one of the upper substrate 120 or the lower substrate 110may include an inclined surface, thereby increasing the contact areabetween the substrate and the auxiliary electrode 400. Accordingly, thebonding force between them increases, so that they may be stably bondedeven if the bonding is to the side surface of the substrate.

In addition, the sealing portion 300 may be disposed to expose the firstexposed surface P1 of the first electrode 210 so that the bent portion Aof the auxiliary electrode 400 may contact the first exposed surface P1.Therefore, the contact area of the auxiliary electrode 400 and the firstelectrode 210 may be increased. Accordingly, power, a signal, or thelike may be stably applied to the display device through the auxiliaryelectrode 400.

While this invention has been described in connection with what ispresently considered to be practical exemplary embodiments, it is to beunderstood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplaryembodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover variousmodifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit andscope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A display device comprising: a lower substratehaving a first side surface; an upper substrate disposed on the lowersubstrate, the upper substrate having a second side surface; a firstelectrode disposed on a surface of one of the lower substrate and theupper substrate; and an auxiliary electrode disposed on the first sidesurface of the lower substrate and the second side surface of the uppersubstrate, wherein at least one of the first side surface of the lowersubstrate or the second side surface of the upper substrate has aninclined surface, the auxiliary electrode includes a bent portion bentat a predetermined angle with respect to the inclined surface, the firstelectrode is in contact with the bent portion of the auxiliary electrodeon a first exposed surface of the first electrode to electricallyconnect the first electrode to the auxiliary electrode, and the firstexposed surface is adjacent to the inclined surface.
 2. The displaydevice of claim 1, wherein the first electrode is disposed on the lowersubstrate, and the inclined surface is inclined at an acute angle withrespect to a lower surface of the upper substrate, and is disposed atthe second side surface of the upper substrate.
 3. The display device ofclaim 1, wherein the first electrode is disposed on the lower substrate,and the inclined surface is inclined at an acute angle with respect to alower surface of the lower substrate, and is disposed at the first sidesurface of the lower substrate.
 4. The display device of claim 1,wherein the first electrode is disposed under the upper substrate, andthe inclined surface is inclined at an obtuse angle with respect to alower surface of the upper substrate, and is disposed at the second sidesurface of the upper substrate.
 5. The display device of claim 1,further comprising a flexible printed circuit board (FPC) disposed onthe auxiliary electrode.
 6. A display device comprising: a firstsubstrate that includes a first side surface; a second substratedisposed on the first substrate, the second substrate including a secondside surface, at least one of the first side surface and second sidesurface having a inclined surface; a first electrode disposed on a mainsurface of at least one of the first substrate or the second substrate;and a second electrode disposed on the first side surface and the secondside surface, wherein the second electrode includes a first portioncorresponding to the first side surface, a second portion correspondingto the second side surface, and a bent portion that is bent with respectto at least one of the first and second side surfaces, and wherein thefirst electrode is in contact with the bent portion of the secondelectrode on an end portion of the first electrode to electricallyconnect the first electrode to the second electrode.